I am Said, the Facilitainer.
I empower facilitators, trainers, and event hosts to deliver engaging virtual experiences using and combining tools such as OBS Studio, Zoom, Butter, Stream Deck, Mentimeter, and some you might not have encountered yet.
My passion is blending content, technology, and human interaction. If you aim to elevate your virtual events or workshops, I'm here to guide you.
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💡 Hey there, Light Up Your Online Sessions with These Pro Tips!
Published 8 months ago • 3 min read
Hey Reader, welcome back to another edition of the Facilitainer.
I am here to help you elevate your virtual facilitation, teaching, and event hosting skills.
In this issue, we're diving into some essential tips to enhance your Zoom sessions and lighting setup, ensuring you always present your best self online.
Plus, I've got a powerful practice to help you refine your skills through self-review.
Let's get started!
💡 Master Three-Point Lighting
Good lighting is crucial for creating professional and engaging video content, including for video conferencing. Whether you're facilitating a workshop, teaching a virtual class, or hosting an online event, a well-lit environment can make a significant difference.
📸 What is Three-Point Lighting?
Three-point lighting involves three main light sources:
💡 Key Light
The primary light source, positioned at a 45-degree angle to the side of the camera. It creates highlights on one side of your face while casting gentle shadows on the other.
💡 Fill Light
Balances the shadows created by the key light. Placed on the opposite side of the key light and at a lower intensity, it softens shadows without eliminating them, adding depth and dimension.
💡 Backlight
Positioned behind you to create a rim of light around the edges, often on your hair and shoulders. This separates you from the background, giving a three-dimensional look.
🔧 Setting Up Your Lights
💡 Key Light Setup
Position at a 45-degree angle from the camera and slightly above eye level. Use a softbox or an LED panel to diffuse light and avoid harsh shadows.
💡 Fill Light Setup
Set up on the opposite side of the key light at a lower intensity. A desk lamp with a soft white bulb or a reflector can work well.
💡 Backlight Setup
Place behind you, aimed at the back of your head and shoulders. Use an LED light or a desk lamp, and keep the setup tidy with cable clips and extension cords.
Mastering three-point lighting can significantly improve your video conferences, making you look more professional and engaging. With some basic equipment and a little practice, you'll set up a lighting system that brings out your best on camera. Try these tips and see the difference!
Tips for Perfect Lighting
Adjust Brightness and Color Temperature 🔄 Balance the brightness and color temperature of all your lights to avoid a mismatched look.
Avoid Glare 🌟 Adjust the angle of your lights to minimize glare, especially if you wear glasses.
Experiment with Angles 🧪 Adjust the angle and height of your lights to see what looks best in your environment.
📹 The Power of Watching Yourself
Do you ever watch the recordings of your sessions? Cringe, am I right? But if not, it might be time to start now.
🧐 Why It's a Must-Do
😬 Overcome the Cringe Factor: Watching yourself can feel cringe-worthy at first, but you'll adapt over time. Pushing past this discomfort allows you to learn and grow from each session. The more you watch, the more you get used to seeing yourself on screen, leading to significant improvements.
🍿 Set the Standard: How can we expect our participants and audiences to watch and listen to us if we cannot stand watching ourselves? To ensure our audiences enjoy our sessions, we must first find them engaging and valuable. Watching your recordings helps you maintain high standards of excellence.
👀 See Through Your Participants' Eyes: Lean back and watch your sessions as a participant. This meta-view reveals new insights into the flow, engagement, and impact of your delivery. It helps you uncover nuances you might have missed during live sessions. Understanding how your audience perceives your content is crucial.
👥 Observe Your Audience: Watching recordings lets you see both yourself and your audience. This perspective provides valuable feedback on participant engagement and reactions, often missed in real-time. You can see when they are most engaged, confused, or losing interest, helping you adjust your content.
⏱️ Track Time Effectively: Reviewing your recordings helps you track the time spent on different activities and topics. This insight allows you to adjust and improve time management for future sessions. By refining your agenda, you can determine which topics need more time and which can be handled faster.
So, grab a comfy seat and your favorite snack. Embrace the discomfort, and hit play! Focus on the overall experience and find areas for improvement. Start small and pick one thing to work on that will have a big impact.
Watching yourself performing isn't about critique. It isn't about counting filler words or analyzing every word you say; it's about unlocking your full potential.
In the last newsletter, we focused on improving your Zoom video settings. This time, I've updated the guide with tips for better audio quality.
Good audio is often more important than video. And if you're sharing music, sound effects, or using tools like Ecamm Live, OBS Studio, or virtual audio cables, there are some pitfalls you should be aware of.
With some quick settings in Zoom, we can immensely improve the audio quality. Check out the updated step-by-step guide.
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Thank you for joining me on this journey of learning in virtual facilitation. Your feedback shapes this newsletter and my content. Let me know what topics you want to hear about next.
Simply reply to this email with any questions or feedbacl you have! Looking forward to hearing from you. 🤓 Stay tuned for more tips and fun.
I am Said, the Facilitainer.
I empower facilitators, trainers, and event hosts to deliver engaging virtual experiences using and combining tools such as OBS Studio, Zoom, Butter, Stream Deck, Mentimeter, and some you might not have encountered yet.
My passion is blending content, technology, and human interaction. If you aim to elevate your virtual events or workshops, I'm here to guide you.
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